Former WWE star open to Royal Rumble 2025 return; reveals why she rejected this year's invitation
The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the most exciting events in pro wrestling. The annual 30-Man and 30-Woman Royal Rumble Matches usually feature surprise returns and debuts to help set the tone for WrestleMania to follow. After recently declining an offer to return, a star is now open to being one of the surprise returns next year.
The IIconics joined WWE in April 2015. Peyton Royce aka Cassie Lee and Billie Kay aka Jessie McKay are former Women's Tag Team Champions. They were released on April 15, 2021, as part of the budget cuts from the company. The Australian wrestlers joined TNA months later, as The IInspiration, and won the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship.
WWE had seemingly offered a surprise spot to the duo in the Women's Royal Rumble Match 2022, while they were TNA champions, but they declined the offer. TNA was supposedly willing to approve the gig, which is notable as this is the same 'Rumble that Mickie James appeared in as Knockouts World Champion.
The Venus Fly Trap and The Femme Fatale turned WWE down as they did not feel like it was the right time to return, in any capacity, and were happy with their path at that time.
Royce, who is married to NXT's Shawn Spears, recently appeared on Ring the Belle and was asked if she'd be interested in a Royal Rumble return if WWE came calling yet again. The 31-year-old said she'd love to return at this point, and acknowledged how they declined the offer earlier.
"Yeah, I'm open to it. For sure, would love that. It'd be so good to catch up and... I mean, it's the Royal Rumble, you know? We said no last time because we were still pretty... hurt about it, but I feel healed now, and I feel like I'd love to do that if the opportunity came," Peyton Royce said. [From 17:20 - 17:43]
WWE split The IIconics up and booked them against each other towards the end of their run in the promotion. Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott defeated them on the August 31, 2020, edition of RAW, and as per the stipulation of the match, they had to disband. Royce then defeated Kay on RAW and Main Event.
The IIconics become mothers after WWE careers
Peyton Royce aka Cassie Lee and Billie McKay aka Jessie McKay have spent time away from the ring after entering motherhood.
Royce married veteran star Shawn Spears in August 2019. They welcomed a son named Austin Jay Arneill on January 17, 2023, and announced on December 24 that they are expecting once again. Their second child is due later this year.
Kay tied the knot with her partner in 2015. They have been together since she was 19 years old but decided to keep the marriage hidden until recently, due to privacy reasons. She announced her first pregnancy in June 2023 and then gave birth to a son named Cooper on December 20 last year.
The tag team formerly known as The IIconics have not wrestled together since TNA Rebellion on April 23, 2022. They failed to win the titles back from Tenille Dashwood and Madison Rayne on the pre-show that night. Only time will tell what the future holds for this popular duo.